In a flash of a second or even a nanosecond, your life can take on a different direction. Each day brings with it many unexpected events that can alter the way we think, act or live the rest of our lives. As we turn the pages of a book and begin each new chapter, the author introduces more information about the characters, develops the plot and excites the reader to continue reading using vivid descriptions of the scenery, the actions of the characters and enveloping the reader and wrapping them so tightly within the pages of the book until the very last word on the last page. This brings me to my review of The Next Chapter by author Melanie Young.

Carol Davidson, wife, mother and wedding photographer’s life is shattered in one brief moment. After speaking with her husband, Jim, not one hour before about their upcoming cruise for their 26th anniversary, the excitement, the happiness and the anticipation of spending this momentous occasion together will forever fade in her mind as the doorbell rings and an officer tells her of her husband’s fate in a deadly car accident. Like many people who lose their spouse, Carol created her own envelope or bubble that completely surrounded her and withdrew into her own world leaving many outside to fend for themselves. With a thriving business, a great next door neighbor and wonderful assistant, she devoted her time to Enchantments, her business and left her daughter and son-in-law outside the parameters of this bubble keeping others just within the walls but not too close.

After four years of mourning Jim, her daughter Andrea and husband Jason visit her with exciting news and want her to come and live with them in Florida. Debating her choices and whether she wanted to give up her home, her tangible memories of Jim and her business, Carol faces some really hard choices and must decide whether a house and material things matter more than her daughter who wants to know her mother and lost the chance with her father due to the accident. What choice does she make? What does her daughter say to her when confronted that finally pushes her to decide?

Visiting Andrea and Jason she meets Andrew a divorced father who Andrea and Jason buy their home and auto insurance from. Immediately taken with Carol he becomes an ardent fan of her moving to Florida. But, that decision is hers and although they seem to bond, Carol is still not ready for a real relationship and Andrew hopes to change that.

As Carol is sorting through and cleaning Jim’s office she comes across a letter that he wrote to her that will forever change her life, her mindset and cement her decision. A sincere, heartfelt, and beautiful letter from Jim to Carol, allows the reader to enter their lives, even for a moment to help understand the strength of their relationship and how strong that bubble that envelopes her formed as a shield to prevent anyone from getting too close and breaking the barriers for fear of being disloyal to Jim. But, after reading his words in his own hand, things will change for Carol, Andrea and her soon to be business partner in Enchantments, Sarah

Andrew the auto and home insurance salesman soon encounters his competition in Eddie the car salesman who definitely resembles Jim. The author takes us on a journey along with Carol with a woman who makes many life changing decisions, including where she will live, whether to have Sarah her assistant buy into her business as a partner, and learning to live life to its fullest. What does happen between Carol and Andrew remains to be seen. Will she prefer the man who looks like Jim? Andrea, Jason, Carol, Andrew, and her new granddaughter Jamie Grace will spend their lives on this exciting journey called life. With her best friend Joan’s sage and wise dating advice, which sounds like what my mother told me, and the support of her family, only time will tell when and if the next chapter in Carol’s life will be written. Dating does mean getting to know someone better to see if you really want to know them, as Joan states so brilliantly. My mother would add, the only thing a man is entitled to is the pleasure of your company and no fringe benefits. A date means going out and having conversation and that’s all. Relationships form over time and require trust, respect and understanding as you learn through Carol and Andrew. Good old fashion values definitely come through in this novel.

Author Melanie Young brings to light the many issues that women deal with when they lose a spouse. Understanding how Carol reacted and feels reminds me of my mom after losing my Dad. She enveloped herself and isolated herself too and did not want to break the walls of that bubble and let the world and the sun back in. But, she did in her own way and now will Carol pop some holes in that bubble and allow it to burst, or will she forever not write the Next Chapter. Well written, with characters whose personalities are clearly defined and the many journeys that Carol takes, the reader hopes that her future will have many Next Chapters with happy endings. Let’s hope she lets the sun shine and back into her life.

Fran Lewis: Reviewer

Author of the Bertha Series of Books and Memories are Precious

I give this book a beautifully photographed picture of

Five People: Carol, Andrea, Jason, Jamie Grace and you decide who gets the final spot.

Up and coming Author Melanie Young Releases Her New Novel The Next Chapter

Up and coming Port St Lucie author Melanie Young has just released her newest book, The Next Chapter, a novel about lost love and new beginnings.

The Next Chapter is the story of a solid marriage of love, happiness and fulfillment; until that fateful day when it is ripped apart by a terrible automobile accident. Carol Davison is left torn apart, grieving that for that which will never be again. How will she survive? How does she move forward? How does she turn the page in “The Next Chapter” of her life?

Read The Next Chapter and see how Carol Davison learns life’s lessons, heals, and finds love again.

Port St Lucie author Melanie Young moved from Spokane, Washington a year ago and promptly settled into her passion for writing. She and her husband, Dean, enjoy the small town atmosphere of the bedroom community of Port St Lucie, along with their two dogs, Ginger and Tommy.

Melanie also leads a local writers group, which meets at Barnes and Noble on US1 in Jensen Beach on the first Wednesday of every month at 7:00 pm. Feel free to join her there along with other local writers for meet and greet, or just to hang out.

The Next Chapter is her first release, but certainly not her last. It can be purchased at lulu.com, amazonkindle.com, amazon.com and her online bookstore at http://auntmel.ecrater.com. If ordered from her online bookstore, you will receive your copy signed. Melanie is also doing a drawing for a tote bag filled with goodies from the book, The Next Chapter, as well as a copy of her next book, Read My Shorts. Contact Melanie at mybooks64@gmail.com for details. Good luck to all who enter.

Frantically running towards the open doors of her life, instantly they slammed shut! Boldly marked with a “going out of business” sign and dead bolted closed. There it was, her life, vanishing immediately before her eyes.

After years of struggling and searching for an understanding of her life, K.M. Johnson found herself stumbling upon a spiritual journey revealing the true meaning of having faith in GOD. Knowing The Struggle Is Over takes the reader through a 3-step process in restoring their faith in GOD. This spiritual journey proves to the Christian believer that having faith in GOD is the only tool needed to overcome any struggle. Knowing The Struggle Is Over discusses how different circumstances in life may lead to doubt, unbelief, and fear. Ms. Johnson shares her experience on how she learned to stop complaining, let go and let God, and finally acknowledge that GOD is truly in control.

Knowing The Struggle Is Over incorporates several exercises that keep the reader fully interacted throughout their entire journey. The 3-step process may be shared with others and practiced daily. Knowing The Struggle Is Over addresses changes in today’s world, the new religions that have transpired, and many of the tragedies we have encountered. The need for revisiting the foundation upon which Christianity is built is fulfilled through scripture references, and comments on biblical passages profoundly embedded within each chapter. Knowing the struggle is over entails real-life applications in addition to practical messages. Whatever your situation or circumstance as you conquer this spiritual journey together with the author, you will find your pathway to Knowing The Struggle Is Over.

Author’s Biography K.M. Johnson is the CEO of Everything(s) Eventful, LLC and author of “A Blog about God”, by Trinite3. She graduated from Florida A&M University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and is currently pursuing a graduate degree in professional counseling. Ms. Johnson travels extensively conducting inspiration and motivational seminars and workshops in the United States and across the globe. Ms. Johnson was born on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and currently resides in Houston, Texas.

JEWEL OF THE ADRIATIC – A nightgown model and a soap opera star meet in Valselo, a Croatian village where millions believe the Mother of God appears to three visionaries. Yugoslavian born Maya Lidovic owns Intimate Whispers, a New York based sleepwear company. Determined not to lose her faith in a secular world, she spends her vacations leading tours in Valselo where her parents run an inn. Colin O’Reilly plays heartthrob, Dr. Brock Stone, on the soap opera Tides Of Tomorrow. Through various setbacks in life he’s managed to keep God first. But now he’s furious at God for taking his mother. Colin doesn’t believe that God has sent the Virgin Mary to earth w

ith messages of hope. He doesn’t believe that God cares about the world. A series of apparitions, prophetic dreams and earthy attraction draw these different people together. Human frailties obscure the intention of the call that brought them to their destinies.human frailties,

Wounded and faithless, Dr. Matthew Robbins arrives in a small Croatian village determined to discredit the visionary who claims to see the Mother of God. Matt believes only proven facts, and he’s sure Anna Babic is either lying or delusional. But, despite all his unpopular testing, he can’t disprove Anna’s visions–and what’s worse, he finds himself falling for the beautiful visionary who speaks with the blessed Virgin Mary.

Anna has experienced skeptics in the past, and they’ve never left a lasting effect. But Matt is different. Despite his open disbelief and vehemence to discredit her, she finds herself hoping he’ll change his mind.

Drawn together as if by a heavenly hand, can Anna choose a life as the wife to her unlikely match? Can Matt believe on faith alone that God loves him enough to heal him and free him to love Anna?

AGAINST DOCTORS ORDERS– The Henna Housewife Killer continues to evade the police for the murders of red headed housewives. ER doctor Molly Jordon treats Detective Danny Sullivan when he’s brought to her ER with a bullet wound. Molly has never had a carnal reaction to a patient before but Danny sparks so much heat in her, he appears in steamy dreams. A cop’s widow and single parent, Molly is fiercely averse to the life of worry loving a cop entails. And Danny isn’t any cop. He’s the son of a retired Police Commissioner and one of six siblings who are all law enforcers. Danny thought that a cop’s job and marriage didn’t mix after his bitter divorce – until he meets the bossy, irresistible Molly Jordan who throws medical orders at him that he has no inclination to follow.
AWARD:

FBI Agency brass and Sullivan family connections force Special Agent Bobbie Leighton into an undercover operation with inactive Homicide Detective Joe Sullivan. Posing as a cattleman and his arm-candy wife the couple is assigned to infiltrate Bradley Sterling’s illegal operation. Suspected of baby trafficking, Sterling may be connected with Jimmy Sullivan’s murder. How do Bobbie and Joe adhere to their professional code of conduct living under the same roof? Can they forget their personal history, ignore their volatile feelings for each other and ensnare their target when they might be next on Sterling’s victims list?

Unaware they share the same goal, Lizzie and Jack motivate Jack’s brother Charlie out of his despondency after the death of his wife. Lizzie and Jack both understand loss. Liz was jilted by her fiancé the same day her parents died ten years ago and Jack’s mother abandoned her small sons to life with a father who never recovered from the separation.

Now Liz faces the man who destroyed her at a college reunion, with Jack as her companion instead of Charlie who engineers the covert substitution. As Liz and Jack collide in the present can they overcome their pasts and find forever?

K. M. Daughters is the writing team of sisters, Pat Casiello and Kathie Clare. Their penname is dedicated to their parents: Kay and Mickey Lynch. Pat is married to Nick Casiello and has three children, Jen, Emilie and Brian. Kathie is married to Tom Clare and has two sons, Tom and Michael. She has one granddaughter, Natalie, a grandson, Michael John new grandbaby is expected in September.

Have you ever wondered what people would do if you took away their faith, their hope, and their religion? Is religion and mores what keeps us civilized and superior to the animal kingdom? My wife and I were discussing these very ideas one day and we thought it would make an interesting plot for a novel.

The result was ABSENCE OF FAITH, a modern day medical mystery thriller, where negative near death experiences plague a small, highly religious town causing many of its residents to lose their faith, and their belief in the future. When some residents wake up with burnt skin, they believe they went to hell and that God has abandoned them. Matters get worse when a local cult uses the opportunity to promote their beliefs and win over the town residents. Will Chantress, the heroine, stop Kyle Mabus from destroying all known religions in the world?

DARK END OF THE SPECTRUM Synopsis

Dan Riker’s life was pretty well planned, predictable and almost boring until a seemingly harmless blackout occurs along the East Coast.

Believing hackers caused the blackouts, the CIA recruits Dan to investigate the massive outages. It is just the challenge he was looking for – something to interrupt the boring, mind-numbing routine of his everyday life.

But when Dan’s wife and 8-year-old daughter are kidnapped, his challenge takes an ominous turn and he resents his involvement with the CIA. He wonders if his family is dead or alive and if he can continue to fight an invisible enemy with no possibility to win.

When the hackers, a group known as ICER, take over the power grid and the cell phone network, Dan is nearly killed in an ambush because he may be the only person with the technical know-how to stop them. He is taken in by an elite team of technical gurus who work for a company with connections to the nation’s security organizations and the President.

With the help of the company, Dan discovers the hackers use a special wireless device installed in cell towers by Homeland Security after 911 to disable the electronics in everything from aircraft to PDAs. The hackers also turn the device into a powerful directed energy weapon that can track and kill any person when they use a cell phone.

ICER gives the government an ultimatum – bomb the borders of Afghanistan and Pakistan with nuclear weapons to put an end to Al-Quada or they will start downing commercial airliners. When the government refuses, ICER destroys most of the downed aircraft in airports all over the country. When ICER sends a pulse that will kill most of the people on East Coast, Dan struggles with saving millions or saving his family.

Will Dan Riker save his family or will millions die?

Biography:
Writing has been something I always did no matter where the winds of life took me. I always wrote.

It could be a paragraph here or there, an idea for a new piece of technology or how I felt about a particular political situation or news event. I feel I have this voice inside that is always trying to say something, get its message out, make a difference, enlighten, entertain or just make people see things a little differently. I think everyone has a unique voice, but some choose to express theirs more than others. Mine seems to be shouting all the time.

Words are powerful things – they change people for better or worse, move mountains, and cause monumental changes. Look what words did to Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare’s words are just as powerful today as they were when he wrote them over 500 years ago. Imagine, writing something today that is so universal, so truthful, so inspiring that people still read it 500 years from now.

Words have that powerful effect on us no matter where we find them, in a book, in a magazine, on a computer screen.

Words are food for the mind. They make us think, imagine, dream, dance in the joy of the things we love.

When I write a scene I know that each one of us who reads it will see different images, experience a different experience and have a unique feeling. This is the power of storytelling. TV or video games can never awaken our imaginations like words do when you read a story. If you choose to express your inner voice through words like I do, then all you can do is write.

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Anthony S. Policastro has been writing all his life.

The publication of his first novel is the pinnacle of his work having previously published articles in The New York Times, American Photographer and other national, regional, and local publications.

Policastro was the former editor-in-chief of Carolina Style magazine, a regional lifestyle publication similar to Southern Living magazine. He was a former journalist, photographer, and webmaster.

The author’s background is in technology, business intelligence, and communications. He is the former senior business analyst for Lulu.com, the largest do-it-yourself publisher in the world headquartered in Raleigh, NC.

A member of the Backspace writers group, he has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Writing and a BA in American Studies both from Penn State University.

His short essay on “What does it mean to be an American family” won in the Borders books Gather.com contest to promote the movie and book, Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri.

He currently writes a blog with Michael Neff, creator and editor of the Webdelsol and Algonkian websites, about writers’ issues called The Writer’s Edge. Policastro and Neff have been referred to as the Ebert and Roeper of the literary scene with their point/counterpoint posts.

Born in New Jersey, he now lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with his wife. He has two sons and a daughter.

It is eighty years after America’s second civil war, although some called it a race war. The war was won by a faction of a homegrown Muslim group and the story begins with a young female college student becoming concerned with the way the Anglo saxton’s, Mexicans and other non-Muslims are being treated.

“Margaret and David: A Love Story,” is a 285 page circumspect story which takes its presumption from history. It is a love story with political ramifications and social impact. After America’s second civil war, fanatical Muslims seized power. “Margaret and David: A Love Story” is the story of tragic interracial love which develops as a nation grows to understand that bigotry and suspicion are tools for oppression and hate no matter where it is found. This is a love story of hope and devotion in the face of hopelessness and despair; a story which blur the lines of our multi-racial society. “Margaret and David: A Love Story” is about forbidden passion, political upheaval, treachery and hate.

The Other Side of Youis a story about passion, romance, surprise, and friendships. Individual paths cross, bringing about relationships between peoplethat are formed during the most unlikely circumstances, offering hope, and the courage to make it through, even when there seems to be nothing but darkness at the end of the tunnel.

Interior designer, Morgan Whitley is confident, classy, and happy with the life she has made for herself. Satisfied with a busy schedule; not leaving much time for socializing or romance, socializing or romance, a trip to London will bring with it an unexpected encounter that ends up changing her life forever. Thus allowing Morgan, for the first time, to experience what it’s like to truly be in love….. and to be loved, offering her the chance to fulfill her need for affection. But not until she is able to put the demons from her past behind her, is she able to enjoy the pleasures associated with being in love.an unexpected encounter ends up changing her life forever.

Airline pilot Jason Moore fit into Morgan’s hectic world perfectly. He is not demanding of her time, nor is he around very often. But something was unique about their relationship; it progressed quickly and without warning. Morgan is overwhelmed by the passion and sexual chemistry they share and she is thankful that she allowed herself the opportunity to experience something so special. Jason was the most incredibly loving, passionate man she ever met. But one small favor would end up costing them everything. And a well kept secret is revealed at a most unwelcome time. The route that Morgan’s life would now follow brings about a revelation that seems impossible. Her faith and physical well-being are tested and a special bond is formed between strangers that may have never existed.

Thankful for a friendship that develops with a compassionate doctor who has also experienced his own loss, Maci leans on him as her life shatters into a million pieces. Fortunately, a powerful force brings the two strangers together, leaving them to discover the true meaning of friendship and undying love. The extraordinary journey that this young mother’s life is about to begin, offers her a second chance at a future she could only have imagined…giving her lost soul the direction she has been searching for, along with the possibility for healing and redemption. At long last she would be able to move forward with a new chapter in her life, and bring to an end the old one, only to find out that life changing secrets could end up being a blessing in disguise.

Mankind has been witness to great disasters and the looming fear of the end times has increased dramatically. Civilization is no longer what it once was. We are threatened with tyranny, global destruction, religious warfare and the eradication of our freedoms and liberties.

Deborah is a leader in delivering inspiration across the globe in a world too often encased with disparity and affliction. In her classic, uninhibited style, she delves into some of the most prevalent and bleak issues plaguing our way of life today – while providing hope and faith throughout. Where is our world going? What is in store for mankind? What can we do to salvage our mortal existence? How can the end times be stopped?

The Constellation of Omens will frighten, inspire and leave you awe struck with world predictions and biblical prophecies as never before witnessed, realized nor contemplated. Truly, a discerning and fascinating read.

The Mammalian Way by Gary James
From holding hands as you walk through the park to murder-suicide, “The Mammalian Way” plays a role in all human relationships past the age of puberty. Learn the attributes of this Social Theory to gain better relationships and to live a safer more pleasu
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